Robot-assisted surgery with its advantages such as three-dimensional high-definition vision, dexterous robotic arms, and tremor filtration, is increasingly being applied to complex radical gastrectomy. However, the role of the surgical assistant remains crucial during the procedure. The assistant is responsible for tasks outside the console, including adjusting robotic arms, changing instruments, exposing the surgical field, and addressing unexpected situations. The technical proficiency of the assistant and their collaboration efficiency with the primary surgeon directly impact the smoothness of surgery and patients' outcomes. With the expansion of robot-assisted surgical indications, the establishment of a standardized training system and the optimization of team collaboration models have become urgent challenges to address. This article draws on the author's practical experience as an assistant in robot-assisted gastric cancer surgeries, conducting an in-depth analysis of the responsibilities and operational skills of surgical assistants in robot-assisted procedures. The aim is to develop a relatively comprehensive set of operational guidelines for surgical assistants in robot-assisted radical gastrectomy, providing valuable references for enhancing the overall efficiency of surgical teams and improving surgical outcomes.

Objective:To explore the factors influencing the success rate of culturing patient-derived gastric and colorectal cancer organoids.Methods:From Feb 2022 to Oct 2023, 398 tumor tissue specimens from patients who underwent gastric cancer and colorectal cancer resection at the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, were used for organoid culture. The clinicopathological factors affecting the success rate of organoid culture were analyzed.Results:The overall success rate of organoid culture in this group was 75.1% (299/398), with the success rate of gastric cancer organoid culture being 79.8%(154/193) and that of colorectal cancer being 70.7% (145/205). Different clinicopathological T stage ( χ2=4.765, P<0.05),histological type ( χ2=11.248, P<0.05), and tumor regression grade (TRG) grade after neoadjuvant chemotherapy ( χ2=7.797, P<0.05) were related to the success rate of organoid culture . Multivariate analysis showed that the TRG grade was an independent influencing factor( P=0.040). For colorectal cancer, different pathological T stage ( χ2=5.108, P<0.05), histological type ( χ2=11.270, P<0.05), and TRG grade after neoadjuvant chemotherapy ( χ2=6.797, P<0.05) were related to the success rate of organoidculture . Different from gastric cancer, the results of multivariate analysis of colorectal cancer showed that the histological type was an independent influencing factor ( P=0.018). Conclusions:The pathologic T stage, histological type of tumors, and TRG of cancer patients all have a significant impact on the success rate of establishing tumor organoids. Among them, the TRG grade is an independent influencing factor for the culture of gastric cancer organoids, and the histological type is an independent influencing factor for colorectal cancer organoids.

Objective:To compare the effects of robotic and laparoscopic radical gastrectomy on short-term clinical outcomes and long-term prognosis in obese patients with gastric cancer.Methods:Clinical data from 231 obese gastric cancer patients undergoing laparoscopic or robotic radical gastrectomy at the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University between Jan 2015 and Dec 2022 was analyzed. After propensity score matching, the patients were divided into robotic surgery group ( n=79) and laparoscopic surgery group ( n=79). The short-term clinical outcomes and long-term prognosis were compared. Results:Compared with the laparoscopic group, the robotic group had a significantly greater number of dissected lymph nodes [(32±13) vs. (26±11), t=2.797, P=0.006], shorter operation time [(245±65) min vs. (272±62) min, t=-2.669, P=0.008], less intraoperative blood loss[(84±69) vs. (119±56) ml, t=-3.502, P=0.001], shorter postoperative hospital stay [(8.2±3.5) vs. (9.6±4.2) d, t=-2.363, P=0.019], and higher hospitalization cost [(102,139±18,303) vs. (77,857±18,325) yuan, t=8.333, P<0.001]. The 5-year overall survival and disease-free survival rates were comparable between the robotic and laparoscopic groups (77.2% vs. 74.7%, P=0.684; and 73.4% vs. 68.4%, P=0.491, respectively). Conclusions:Robotic radical gastrectomy is a safe and feasible alternative for obese gastric cancer patients in experienced hands. It offers advantages in short-term clinical outcomes, however, it fails to provide a significant long-term survival benefit.

Objective:To compare the short- and long-term outcomes of robotic versus laparoscopic gastrectomy in patients with locally advanced gastric cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.Methods:Data from 321 patients with locally advanced gastric cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by robotic ( n=109) and laparoscopic ( n=212) radical gastrectomy at our center between May 2017 and Sep 2022 was collected. After 1∶1 propensity score matching, 106 patients from each group were included in the final analysis to compare short-term clinical outcomes and long-term prognostic indicators. Results:The robotic group had a significantly lower overall complication rate (13.2% vs. 28.3%, χ2=6.453, P=0.007) and surgery-related complication rate (8.5% vs. 17.9%, χ2=3.333, P=0.043) than the laparoscopic group. The robotic group also retrieved more total lymph nodes (35.3±4.9 vs. 31.4±6.3, t=4.863, P<0.001) and supra-pancreatic lymph nodes (13.1±3.4 vs. 10.1±2.1, t=5.258, P<0.001). Additionally, the robotic group had a shorter operative time [(218±47) min vs. (267±71) min, t=-6.001, P<0.001], less intraoperative blood loss [(47±12) ml vs. (71±17) ml, t=-5.424, P<0.001], and faster postoperative recovery. The 3-year recurrence-free survival rate was significantly higher in the robotic group compared to the laparoscopic group (75.5% vs. 62.3%, P=0.017). Conclusion:Compared with laparoscopic gastrectomy, robotic gastrectomy allows for a more lymph nodes harvest, significantly reduces intraoperative blood loss and complication rates and significantly improves recurrence-free survival.

Objective:To compare the efficacy of Ilizarov ring external fixation and unilateral rail external fixation in the treatment of infected bone defects following surgery for tibial fractures.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 50 patients with infected bone defects after surgery for tibial fractures, who were admitted to the 940th Hospital of the Joint Logistics Support Force of the PLA from August 2019 to November 2021, including 37 males and 13 females, aged 19-59 years [(42.2±8.8)years]. After debridement and osteotomy, 28 patients were treated with Ilizarov ring external fixation (Ilizarov group) and 22 with unilateral rail external fixation (unilateral fixation group). All the patients in the two groups had previously undergone internal fixation with plates or Kirschner wires for tibial fracture before bone transport. Bone transport started at one week for three stages after successful infection control and osteotomy and was conducted. The following parameters were compared between the two groups: frame-wearing time and healing index after bone transport, self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) grade at 6 months after bone transport, Paley score and Association for the Study and Application of the Method of Ilizarov (ASAMI) score at the last follow-up, Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) knee score and Baird-Jackson ankle score on admission, after external fixator removal and at the last follow-up, and incidence of postoperative complications.Results:All the patients were followed up for 28-36 months [(32.5±1.6)months]. There were no significant differences in frame-wearing time or healing index between the two groups after bone transport ( P>0.05). At 6 months after bone transport, the SAS grade in the unilateral fixation group (13 patients with mild anxiety, 8 with moderate anxiety, and 1 with severe anxiety) was better than that in the Ilizarov group (6 patients with mild anxiety, 19 with moderate anxiety, 3 with severe anxiety) ( P<0.01). No significant differences were found in the Paley score or ASAMI score between the two groups at the last follow-up ( P>0.05). There were no significant differences in HSS knee score or Baird-Jackson ankle score between the two groups on admission, after external fixator removal or at the last follow-up ( P>0.05). No significant differences were observed in the incidence of pin tract infection, poor healing, infection in the bone elongation area, or re-fracture between the two groups ( P>0.05). The incidence of postoperative axial deviation was 0 in the Ilizarov group, lower than 18% in the unilateral fixation group (4/22) ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Although Ilizarov ring external fixation and unilateral rail external fixation demonstrate comparable efficacy in the treatment of infected bone defects after surgery for tibial fractures, the former provides superior mechanical stability and postoperative axial deviation correction, while the latter offers advantages in reducing psychological burden and enhancing treatment tolerance.

Robot-assisted surgery with its advantages such as three-dimensional high-definition vision, dexterous robotic arms, and tremor filtration, is increasingly being applied to complex radical gastrectomy. However, the role of the surgical assistant remains crucial during the procedure. The assistant is responsible for tasks outside the console, including adjusting robotic arms, changing instruments, exposing the surgical field, and addressing unexpected situations. The technical proficiency of the assistant and their collaboration efficiency with the primary surgeon directly impact the smoothness of surgery and patients' outcomes. With the expansion of robot-assisted surgical indications, the establishment of a standardized training system and the optimization of team collaboration models have become urgent challenges to address. This article draws on the author's practical experience as an assistant in robot-assisted gastric cancer surgeries, conducting an in-depth analysis of the responsibilities and operational skills of surgical assistants in robot-assisted procedures. The aim is to develop a relatively comprehensive set of operational guidelines for surgical assistants in robot-assisted radical gastrectomy, providing valuable references for enhancing the overall efficiency of surgical teams and improving surgical outcomes.

Objective:To compare the efficacy of Ilizarov ring external fixation and unilateral rail external fixation in the treatment of infected bone defects following surgery for tibial fractures.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 50 patients with infected bone defects after surgery for tibial fractures, who were admitted to the 940th Hospital of the Joint Logistics Support Force of the PLA from August 2019 to November 2021, including 37 males and 13 females, aged 19-59 years [(42.2±8.8)years]. After debridement and osteotomy, 28 patients were treated with Ilizarov ring external fixation (Ilizarov group) and 22 with unilateral rail external fixation (unilateral fixation group). All the patients in the two groups had previously undergone internal fixation with plates or Kirschner wires for tibial fracture before bone transport. Bone transport started at one week for three stages after successful infection control and osteotomy and was conducted. The following parameters were compared between the two groups: frame-wearing time and healing index after bone transport, self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) grade at 6 months after bone transport, Paley score and Association for the Study and Application of the Method of Ilizarov (ASAMI) score at the last follow-up, Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) knee score and Baird-Jackson ankle score on admission, after external fixator removal and at the last follow-up, and incidence of postoperative complications.Results:All the patients were followed up for 28-36 months [(32.5±1.6)months]. There were no significant differences in frame-wearing time or healing index between the two groups after bone transport ( P>0.05). At 6 months after bone transport, the SAS grade in the unilateral fixation group (13 patients with mild anxiety, 8 with moderate anxiety, and 1 with severe anxiety) was better than that in the Ilizarov group (6 patients with mild anxiety, 19 with moderate anxiety, 3 with severe anxiety) ( P<0.01). No significant differences were found in the Paley score or ASAMI score between the two groups at the last follow-up ( P>0.05). There were no significant differences in HSS knee score or Baird-Jackson ankle score between the two groups on admission, after external fixator removal or at the last follow-up ( P>0.05). No significant differences were observed in the incidence of pin tract infection, poor healing, infection in the bone elongation area, or re-fracture between the two groups ( P>0.05). The incidence of postoperative axial deviation was 0 in the Ilizarov group, lower than 18% in the unilateral fixation group (4/22) ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Although Ilizarov ring external fixation and unilateral rail external fixation demonstrate comparable efficacy in the treatment of infected bone defects after surgery for tibial fractures, the former provides superior mechanical stability and postoperative axial deviation correction, while the latter offers advantages in reducing psychological burden and enhancing treatment tolerance.

Objective:To explore the factors influencing the success rate of culturing patient-derived gastric and colorectal cancer organoids.Methods:From Feb 2022 to Oct 2023, 398 tumor tissue specimens from patients who underwent gastric cancer and colorectal cancer resection at the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, were used for organoid culture. The clinicopathological factors affecting the success rate of organoid culture were analyzed.Results:The overall success rate of organoid culture in this group was 75.1% (299/398), with the success rate of gastric cancer organoid culture being 79.8%(154/193) and that of colorectal cancer being 70.7% (145/205). Different clinicopathological T stage ( χ2=4.765, P<0.05),histological type ( χ2=11.248, P<0.05), and tumor regression grade (TRG) grade after neoadjuvant chemotherapy ( χ2=7.797, P<0.05) were related to the success rate of organoid culture . Multivariate analysis showed that the TRG grade was an independent influencing factor( P=0.040). For colorectal cancer, different pathological T stage ( χ2=5.108, P<0.05), histological type ( χ2=11.270, P<0.05), and TRG grade after neoadjuvant chemotherapy ( χ2=6.797, P<0.05) were related to the success rate of organoidculture . Different from gastric cancer, the results of multivariate analysis of colorectal cancer showed that the histological type was an independent influencing factor ( P=0.018). Conclusions:The pathologic T stage, histological type of tumors, and TRG of cancer patients all have a significant impact on the success rate of establishing tumor organoids. Among them, the TRG grade is an independent influencing factor for the culture of gastric cancer organoids, and the histological type is an independent influencing factor for colorectal cancer organoids.

Objective:To compare the effects of robotic and laparoscopic radical gastrectomy on short-term clinical outcomes and long-term prognosis in obese patients with gastric cancer.Methods:Clinical data from 231 obese gastric cancer patients undergoing laparoscopic or robotic radical gastrectomy at the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University between Jan 2015 and Dec 2022 was analyzed. After propensity score matching, the patients were divided into robotic surgery group ( n=79) and laparoscopic surgery group ( n=79). The short-term clinical outcomes and long-term prognosis were compared. Results:Compared with the laparoscopic group, the robotic group had a significantly greater number of dissected lymph nodes [(32±13) vs. (26±11), t=2.797, P=0.006], shorter operation time [(245±65) min vs. (272±62) min, t=-2.669, P=0.008], less intraoperative blood loss[(84±69) vs. (119±56) ml, t=-3.502, P=0.001], shorter postoperative hospital stay [(8.2±3.5) vs. (9.6±4.2) d, t=-2.363, P=0.019], and higher hospitalization cost [(102,139±18,303) vs. (77,857±18,325) yuan, t=8.333, P<0.001]. The 5-year overall survival and disease-free survival rates were comparable between the robotic and laparoscopic groups (77.2% vs. 74.7%, P=0.684; and 73.4% vs. 68.4%, P=0.491, respectively). Conclusions:Robotic radical gastrectomy is a safe and feasible alternative for obese gastric cancer patients in experienced hands. It offers advantages in short-term clinical outcomes, however, it fails to provide a significant long-term survival benefit.

Objective:To compare the short- and long-term outcomes of robotic versus laparoscopic gastrectomy in patients with locally advanced gastric cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.Methods:Data from 321 patients with locally advanced gastric cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by robotic ( n=109) and laparoscopic ( n=212) radical gastrectomy at our center between May 2017 and Sep 2022 was collected. After 1∶1 propensity score matching, 106 patients from each group were included in the final analysis to compare short-term clinical outcomes and long-term prognostic indicators. Results:The robotic group had a significantly lower overall complication rate (13.2% vs. 28.3%, χ2=6.453, P=0.007) and surgery-related complication rate (8.5% vs. 17.9%, χ2=3.333, P=0.043) than the laparoscopic group. The robotic group also retrieved more total lymph nodes (35.3±4.9 vs. 31.4±6.3, t=4.863, P<0.001) and supra-pancreatic lymph nodes (13.1±3.4 vs. 10.1±2.1, t=5.258, P<0.001). Additionally, the robotic group had a shorter operative time [(218±47) min vs. (267±71) min, t=-6.001, P<0.001], less intraoperative blood loss [(47±12) ml vs. (71±17) ml, t=-5.424, P<0.001], and faster postoperative recovery. The 3-year recurrence-free survival rate was significantly higher in the robotic group compared to the laparoscopic group (75.5% vs. 62.3%, P=0.017). Conclusion:Compared with laparoscopic gastrectomy, robotic gastrectomy allows for a more lymph nodes harvest, significantly reduces intraoperative blood loss and complication rates and significantly improves recurrence-free survival.